essay in final exams

The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Essay Exams

What this handout is about.

At some time in your undergraduate career, you’re going to have to write an essay exam. This thought can inspire a fair amount of fear: we struggle enough with essays when they aren’t timed events based on unknown questions. The goal of this handout is to give you some easy and effective strategies that will help you take control of the situation and do your best.

Why do instructors give essay exams?

Essay exams are a useful tool for finding out if you can sort through a large body of information, figure out what is important, and explain why it is important. Essay exams challenge you to come up with key course ideas and put them in your own words and to use the interpretive or analytical skills you’ve practiced in the course. Instructors want to see whether:

You understand concepts that provide the basis for the course
You can use those concepts to interpret specific materials
You can make connections, see relationships, draw comparisons and contrasts
You can synthesize diverse information in support of an original assertion
You can justify your own evaluations based on appropriate criteria
You can argue your own opinions with convincing evidence
You can think critically and analytically about a subject

What essay questions require

Exam questions can reach pretty far into the course materials, so you cannot hope to do well on them if you do not keep up with the readings and assignments from the beginning of the course. The most successful essay exam takers are prepared for anything reasonable, and they probably have some intelligent guesses about the content of the exam before they take it. How can you be a prepared exam taker? Try some of the following suggestions during the semester:

Do the reading as the syllabus dictates; keeping up with the reading while the related concepts are being discussed in class saves you double the effort later.
Go to lectures (and put away your phone, the newspaper, and that crossword puzzle!).
Take careful notes that you’ll understand months later. If this is not your strong suit or the conventions for a particular discipline are different from what you are used to, ask your TA or the Learning Center for advice.
Participate in your discussion sections; this will help you absorb the material better so you don’t have to study as hard.
Organize small study groups with classmates to explore and review course materials throughout the semester. Others will catch things you might miss even when paying attention. This is not cheating. As long as what you write on the essay is your own work, formulating ideas and sharing notes is okay. In fact, it is a big part of the learning process.
As an exam approaches, find out what you can about the form it will take. This will help you forecast the questions that will be on the exam, and prepare for them.

These suggestions will save you lots of time and misery later. Remember that you can’t cram weeks of information into a single day or night of study. So why put yourself in that position?

Now let’s focus on studying for the exam. You’ll notice the following suggestions are all based on organizing your study materials into manageable chunks of related material. If you have a plan of attack, you’ll feel more confident and your answers will be more clear. Here are some tips:

Don’t just memorize aimlessly; clarify the important issues of the course and use these issues to focus your understanding of specific facts and particular readings.
Try to organize and prioritize the information into a thematic pattern. Look at what you’ve studied and find a way to put things into related groups. Find the fundamental ideas that have been emphasized throughout the course and organize your notes into broad categories. Think about how different categories relate to each other.
Find out what you don’t know, but need to know, by making up test questions and trying to answer them. Studying in groups helps as well.

Taking the exam

Read the exam carefully.

If you are given the entire exam at once and can determine your approach on your own, read the entire exam before you get started.
Look at how many points each part earns you, and find hints for how long your answers should be.
Figure out how much time you have and how best to use it. Write down the actual clock time that you expect to take in each section, and stick to it. This will help you avoid spending all your time on only one section. One strategy is to divide the available time according to percentage worth of the question. You don’t want to spend half of your time on something that is only worth one tenth of the total points.
As you read, make tentative choices of the questions you will answer (if you have a choice). Don’t just answer the first essay question you encounter. Instead, read through all of the options. Jot down really brief ideas for each question before deciding.
Remember that the easiest-looking question is not always as easy as it looks. Focus your attention on questions for which you can explain your answer most thoroughly, rather than settle on questions where you know the answer but can’t say why.

Analyze the questions

Decide what you are being asked to do. If you skim the question to find the main “topic” and then rush to grasp any related ideas you can recall, you may become flustered, lose concentration, and even go blank. Try looking closely at what the question is directing you to do, and try to understand the sort of writing that will be required.
Focus on what you do know about the question, not on what you don’t.
Look at the active verbs in the assignment—they tell you what you should be doing. We’ve included some of these below, with some suggestions on what they might mean. (For help with this sort of detective work, see the Writing Center handout titled Reading Assignments.)

Information words, such as who, what, when, where, how, and why ask you to demonstrate what you know about the subject. Information words may include:

define—give the subject’s meaning (according to someone or something). Sometimes you have to give more than one view on the subject’s meaning.
explain why/how—give reasons why or examples of how something happened.
illustrate—give descriptive examples of the subject and show how each is connected with the subject.
summarize—briefly cover the important ideas you learned about the subject.
trace—outline how something has changed or developed from an earlier time to its current form.
research—gather material from outside sources about the subject, often with the implication or requirement that you will analyze what you’ve found.

Relation words ask you to demonstrate how things are connected. Relation words may include:

compare—show how two or more things are similar (and, sometimes, different).
contrast—show how two or more things are dissimilar.
apply—use details that you’ve been given to demonstrate how an idea, theory, or concept works in a particular situation.
cause—show how one event or series of events made something else happen.
relate—show or describe the connections between things.

Interpretation words ask you to defend ideas of your own about the subject. Don’t see these words as requesting opinion alone (unless the assignment specifically says so), but as requiring opinion that is supported by concrete evidence. Remember examples, principles, definitions, or concepts from class or research and use them in your interpretation. Interpretation words may include:

prove, justify—give reasons or examples to demonstrate how or why something is the truth.
evaluate, respond, assess—state your opinion of the subject as good, bad, or some combination of the two, with examples and reasons (you may want to compare your subject to something else).
support—give reasons or evidence for something you believe (be sure to state clearly what it is that you believe).
synthesize—put two or more things together that haven’t been put together before; don’t just summarize one and then the other, and say that they are similar or different—you must provide a reason for putting them together (as opposed to compare and contrast—see above).
analyze—look closely at the components of something to figure out how it works, what it might mean, or why it is important.
argue—take a side and defend it (with proof) against the other side.

Plan your answers

Think about your time again. How much planning time you should take depends on how much time you have for each question and how many points each question is worth. Here are some general guidelines:

For short-answer definitions and identifications, just take a few seconds. Skip over any you don’t recognize fairly quickly, and come back to them when another question jogs your memory.
For answers that require a paragraph or two, jot down several important ideas or specific examples that help to focus your thoughts.
For longer answers, you will need to develop a much more definite strategy of organization. You only have time for one draft, so allow a reasonable amount of time—as much as a quarter of the time you’ve allotted for the question—for making notes, determining a thesis, and developing an outline.
For questions with several parts (different requests or directions, a sequence of questions), make a list of the parts so that you do not miss or minimize one part. One way to be sure you answer them all is to number them in the question and in your outline.
You may have to try two or three outlines or clusters before you hit on a workable plan. But be realistic—you want a plan you can develop within the limited time allotted for your answer. Your outline will have to be selective—not everything you know, but what you know that you can state clearly and keep to the point in the time available.

Again, focus on what you do know about the question, not on what you don’t.

Writing your answers

As with planning, your strategy for writing depends on the length of your answer:

For short identifications and definitions, it is usually best to start with a general identifying statement and then move on to describe specific applications or explanations. Two sentences will almost always suffice, but make sure they are complete sentences. Find out whether the instructor wants definition alone, or definition and significance. Why is the identification term or object important?
For longer answers, begin by stating your forecasting statement or thesis clearly and explicitly. Strive for focus, simplicity, and clarity. In stating your point and developing your answers, you may want to use important course vocabulary words from the question. For example, if the question is, “How does wisteria function as a representation of memory in Faulkner’s Absalom, Absalom?” you may want to use the words wisteria, representation, memory, and Faulkner) in your thesis statement and answer. Use these important words or concepts throughout the answer.
If you have devised a promising outline for your answer, then you will be able to forecast your overall plan and its subpoints in your opening sentence. Forecasting impresses readers and has the very practical advantage of making your answer easier to read. Also, if you don’t finish writing, it tells your reader what you would have said if you had finished (and may get you partial points).
You might want to use briefer paragraphs than you ordinarily do and signal clear relations between paragraphs with transition phrases or sentences.
As you move ahead with the writing, you may think of new subpoints or ideas to include in the essay. Stop briefly to make a note of these on your original outline. If they are most appropriately inserted in a section you’ve already written, write them neatly in the margin, at the top of the page, or on the last page, with arrows or marks to alert the reader to where they fit in your answer. Be as neat and clear as possible.
Don’t pad your answer with irrelevancies and repetitions just to fill up space. Within the time available, write a comprehensive, specific answer.
Watch the clock carefully to ensure that you do not spend too much time on one answer. You must be realistic about the time constraints of an essay exam. If you write one dazzling answer on an exam with three equally-weighted required questions, you earn only 33 points—not enough to pass at most colleges. This may seem unfair, but keep in mind that instructors plan exams to be reasonably comprehensive. They want you to write about the course materials in two or three or more ways, not just one way. Hint: if you finish a half-hour essay in 10 minutes, you may need to develop some of your ideas more fully.
If you run out of time when you are writing an answer, jot down the remaining main ideas from your outline, just to show that you know the material and with more time could have continued your exposition.
Double-space to leave room for additions, and strike through errors or changes with one straight line (avoid erasing or scribbling over). Keep things as clean as possible. You never know what will earn you partial credit.
Write legibly and proofread. Remember that your instructor will likely be reading a large pile of exams. The more difficult they are to read, the more exasperated the instructor might become. Your instructor also cannot give you credit for what they cannot understand. A few minutes of careful proofreading can improve your grade.

Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind in writing essay exams is that you have a limited amount of time and space in which to get across the knowledge you have acquired and your ability to use it. Essay exams are not the place to be subtle or vague. It’s okay to have an obvious structure, even the five-paragraph essay format you may have been taught in high school. Introduce your main idea, have several paragraphs of support—each with a single point defended by specific examples, and conclude with a restatement of your main point and its significance.

Some physiological tips

Just think—we expect athletes to practice constantly and use everything in their abilities and situations in order to achieve success. Yet, somehow many students are convinced that one day’s worth of studying, no sleep, and some well-placed compliments (“Gee, Dr. So-and-so, I really enjoyed your last lecture”) are good preparation for a test. Essay exams are like any other testing situation in life: you’ll do best if you are prepared for what is expected of you, have practiced doing it before, and have arrived in the best shape to do it. You may not want to believe this, but it’s true: a good night’s sleep and a relaxed mind and body can do as much or more for you as any last-minute cram session. Colleges abound with tales of woe about students who slept through exams because they stayed up all night, wrote an essay on the wrong topic, forgot everything they studied, or freaked out in the exam and hyperventilated. If you are rested, breathing normally, and have brought along some healthy, energy-boosting snacks that you can eat or drink quietly, you are in a much better position to do a good job on the test. You aren’t going to write a good essay on something you figured out at 4 a.m. that morning. If you prepare yourself well throughout the semester, you don’t risk your whole grade on an overloaded, undernourished brain.

If for some reason you get yourself into this situation, take a minute every once in a while during the test to breathe deeply, stretch, and clear your brain. You need to be especially aware of the likelihood of errors, so check your essays thoroughly before you hand them in to make sure they answer the right questions and don’t have big oversights or mistakes (like saying “Hitler” when you really mean “Churchill”).

If you tend to go blank during exams, try studying in the same classroom in which the test will be given. Some research suggests that people attach ideas to their surroundings, so it might jog your memory to see the same things you were looking at while you studied.

Try good luck charms. Bring in something you associate with success or the support of your loved ones, and use it as a psychological boost.

Take all of the time you’ve been allotted. Reread, rework, and rethink your answers if you have extra time at the end, rather than giving up and handing the exam in the minute you’ve written your last sentence. Use every advantage you are given.

Remember that instructors do not want to see you trip up—they want to see you do well. With this in mind, try to relax and just do the best you can. The more you panic, the more mistakes you are liable to make. Put the test in perspective: will you die from a poor performance? Will you lose all of your friends? Will your entire future be destroyed? Remember: it’s just a test.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Axelrod, Rise B., and Charles R. Cooper. 2016. The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing , 11th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Fowler, Ramsay H., and Jane E. Aaron. 2016. The Little, Brown Handbook , 13th ed. Boston: Pearson.

Gefvert, Constance J. 1988. The Confident Writer: A Norton Handbook , 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton and Company.

Kirszner, Laurie G. 1988. Writing: A College Rhetoric , 2nd ed. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Woodman, Leonara, and Thomas P. Adler. 1988. The Writer’s Choices , 2nd ed. Northbrook, Illinois: Scott Foresman.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., how to study for finals.

Final exams aren’t just any tests. They draw upon your knowledge from the entire semester, and you have to take a whole bunch of them at once. Depending on how your finals are weighted, your final exam grade could even mean the difference between an A and a C on your transcript !

Follow our ultimate studying guide, and earn a top grade on your final exams.

1. Make a finals game plan.

If you plan out your study sessions (for ALL your exams), you’ll get a better handle on how much work you’re facing. Use the calendar on your phone to set alerts and reminders for yourself so you stick to your plan.

2. Start early.

Start studying for finals a few weeks before the first exam, and figure out how much time to set aside each day for each subject. Be realistic about how long it will take to, say, memorize the dates for all the Civil War battles. You need to fit in brain breaks, too!

3. Study in this order: a) definitely b) probably c) might be on the final

Don’t just start from the beginning of your notes and try to cram everything in: Think about what you know for sure will be on each test and review that material first. Then move on to studying what will probably be on the test, then what might be covered. That way, if you run out of time, you know you at least have the basics nailed. Ask your teachers if they’ll share copies of previous finals so you can see what might be covered or how questions will be phrased.

4. Give yourself more time to study for your toughest classes.

If chemistry gave you trouble all semester, devote more time to that subject—even if it’s your last final. Look over your previous tests for the year, if you scored poorly on one unit in Spanish , chances are you didn’t absorb it all the first time. Take extra time now to review what you missed. By starting with the toughest stuff first, you have time to ask your teacher questions or get help from our tutors .

5. Form a study group.

There’s nothing like peer pressure to keep you motivated to study. Make a plan with friends to review the class material, compare notes, or work through tricky concepts. You'll benefit from the good study habits and notes of the other members in your study group. if you’re trying to solve a tough math problem, two heads are better than one.

6. Talk it out.

Not only is it more fun to study with your friends than studying by yourself, you’ll also learn more. By talking through the facts and formulas with a study partner, you’re thinking about the material more deeply, which means you’ll remember it better later.

7. Get creative with study aids.

Now that you know what key concepts from each subject you need to prioritize, find the best way to review and internalize what you predict will be on the final exam. Make flash cards to help you memorize dates and equations. Or come up with a mnemonic device—a system of memorizing facts using a phrase or acronym you’ll definitely remember. For example, using the name Roy G. Biv helps to remember the order of colors in a rainbow.

8. Study your notes.

Outline your class notes for daily review. Notes and flashcards are also great for last-minute review the morning of your exam.

9. Quiz yourself.

If you’re studying at home, have your mom or dad quiz you on the information you’ve already studied. Students tend to remember the information they've been quizzed on better than the information they simply review.

10. Make sleep a priority.

While it may be tempting to pull an all-nighter and cram everything in at the last minute, it’s a bad idea. You just add stress, and you won’t retain the information for very long by studying that way. You may even forget some of it by the time the test begins.

11. Take five.

Take breaks to improve your concentration when you return to studying: Veg out with an episode of your favorite TV show or play a couple rounds of Wii tennis.

12. Brain food is real.

Eat healthy and drink plenty of water to keep your brain firing on all cylinders.

Still stuck on how to study for finals?

We can help! Try a session with one of our online tutors . We can walk you through tricky concepts or study strategies—whatever you need, 24/7.

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Writing Essays for Exams

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What is a well written answer to an essay question?

Well Focused

Be sure to answer the question completely, that is, answer all parts of the question. Avoid "padding." A lot of rambling and ranting is a sure sign that the writer doesn't really know what the right answer is and hopes that somehow, something in that overgrown jungle of words was the correct answer.

Well Organized

Don't write in a haphazard "think-as-you-go" manner. Do some planning and be sure that what you write has a clearly marked introduction which both states the point(s) you are going to make and also, if possible, how you are going to proceed. In addition, the essay should have a clearly indicated conclusion which summarizes the material covered and emphasizes your thesis or main point.

Well Supported

Do not just assert something is true, prove it. What facts, figures, examples, tests, etc. prove your point? In many cases, the difference between an A and a B as a grade is due to the effective use of supporting evidence.

Well Packaged

People who do not use conventions of language are thought of by their readers as less competent and less educated. If you need help with these or other writing skills, come to the Writing Lab

How do you write an effective essay exam?

Read through all the questions carefully.
Budget your time and decide which question(s) you will answer first.
Underline the key word(s) which tell you what to do for each question.
Choose an organizational pattern appropriate for each key word and plan your answers on scratch paper or in the margins.
Write your answers as quickly and as legibly as you can; do not take the time to recopy.
Begin each answer with one or two sentence thesis which summarizes your answer. If possible, phrase the statement so that it rephrases the question's essential terms into a statement (which therefore directly answers the essay question).
Support your thesis with specific references to the material you have studied.
Proofread your answer and correct errors in spelling and mechanics.

Specific organizational patterns and "key words"

Most essay questions will have one or more "key words" that indicate which organizational pattern you should use in your answer. The six most common organizational patterns for essay exams are definition, analysis, cause and effect, comparison/contrast, process analysis, and thesis-support.

Typical questions

"Define X."
"What is an X?"
"Choose N terms from the following list and define them."

Q: "What is a fanzine?"

A: A fanzine is a magazine written, mimeographed, and distributed by and for science fiction or comic strip enthusiasts.

Avoid constructions such as "An encounter group is where ..." and "General semantics is when ... ."

State the term to be defined.
State the class of objects or concepts to which the term belongs.
Differentiate the term from other members of the class by listing the term's distinguishing characteristics.

Tools you can use

Details which describe the term
Examples and incidents
Comparisons to familiar terms
Negation to state what the term is not
Classification (i.e., break it down into parts)
Examination of origins or causes
Examination of results, effects, or uses

Analysis involves breaking something down into its components and discovering the parts that make up the whole.

"Analyze X."
"What are the components of X?"
"What are the five different kinds of X?"
"Discuss the different types of X."

Q: "Discuss the different services a junior college offers a community."

A: Thesis: A junior college offers the community at least three main types of educational services: vocational education for young people, continuing education for older people, and personal development for all individuals.

Outline for supporting details and examples. For example, if you were answering the example question, an outline might include:

Vocational education
Continuing education
Personal development

Write the essay, describing each part or component and making transitions between each of your descriptions. Some useful transition words include:

first, second, third, etc.
in addition

Conclude the essay by emphasizing how each part you have described makes up the whole you have been asked to analyze.

Cause and Effect

Cause and effect involves tracing probable or known effects of a certain cause or examining one or more effects and discussing the reasonable or known cause(s).

Typical questions:

"What are the causes of X?"
"What led to X?"
"Why did X occur?"
"Why does X happen?"
"What would be the effects of X?"

Q: "Define recession and discuss the probable effects a recession would have on today's society."

A: Thesis: A recession, which is a nationwide lull in business activity, would be detrimental to society in the following ways: it would .......A......., it would .......B......., and it would .......C....... .

The rest of the answer would explain, in some detail, the three effects: A, B, and C.

Useful transition words:

consequently
for this reason
as a result

Comparison-Contrast

"How does X differ from Y?"
"Compare X and Y."
"What are the advantages and disadvantages of X and Y?"

Q: "Which would you rather own—a compact car or a full-sized car?"

A: Thesis: I would own a compact car rather than a full-sized car for the following reasons: .......A......., .......B......., .......C......., and .......D....... .

Two patterns of development:

Full-sized car

Disadvantages

Compact car

Useful transition words

on the other hand
unlike A, B ...
in the same way
while both A and B are ..., only B ..
nevertheless
on the contrary
while A is ..., B is ...
"Describe how X is accomplished."
"List the steps involved in X."
"Explain what happened in X."
"What is the procedure involved in X?"

Process (sometimes called process analysis)

This involves giving directions or telling the reader how to do something. It may involve discussing some complex procedure as a series of discrete steps. The organization is almost always chronological.

Q: "According to Richard Bolles' What Color Is Your Parachute?, what is the best procedure for finding a job?"

A: In What Color Is Your Parachute?, Richard Bolles lists seven steps that all job-hunters should follow: .....A....., .....B....., .....C....., .....D....., .....E....., .....F....., and .....G..... .

The remainder of the answer should discuss each of these seven steps in some detail.

following this
after, afterwards, after this
subsequently
simultaneously, concurrently

Thesis and Support

"Discuss X."
"A noted authority has said X. Do you agree or disagree?"
"Defend or refute X."
"Do you think that X is valid? Defend your position."

Thesis and support involves stating a clearly worded opinion or interpretation and then defending it with all the data, examples, facts, and so on that you can draw from the material you have studied.

Q: "Despite criticism, television is useful because it aids in the socializing process of our children."

A: Television hinders rather than helps in the socializing process of our children because .......A......., .......B......., and .......C....... .

The rest of the answer is devoted to developing arguments A, B, and C.

it follows that

A. Which of the following two answers is the better one? Why?

Question: Discuss the contribution of William Morris to book design, using as an example his edition of the works of Chaucer.

a. William Morris's Chaucer was his masterpiece. It shows his interest in the Middle Ages. The type is based on medieval manuscript writing, and the decoration around the edges of the pages is like that used in medieval books. The large initial letters are typical of medieval design. Those letters were printed from woodcuts, which was the medieval way of printing. The illustrations were by Burn-Jones, one of the best artists in England at the time. Morris was able to get the most competent people to help him because he was so famous as a poet and a designer (the Morris chair) and wallpaper and other decorative items for the home. He designed the furnishings for his own home, which was widely admired among the sort of people he associated with. In this way he started the arts and crafts movement.

b. Morris's contribution to book design was to approach the problem as an artist or fine craftsman, rather than a mere printer who reproduced texts. He wanted to raise the standards of printing, which had fallen to a low point, by showing that truly beautiful books could be produced. His Chaucer was designed as a unified work of art or high craft. Since Chaucer lived in the Middle Ages, Morris decided to design a new type based on medieval script and to imitate the format of a medieval manuscript. This involved elaborate letters and large initials at the beginnings of verses, as well as wide borders of intertwined vines with leaves, fruit, and flowers in strong colors. The effect was so unusual that the book caused great excitement and inspired other printers to design beautiful rather than purely utilitarian books.

From James M. McCrimmon, Writing with a Purpose , 7th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1980), pp. 261-263.

B. How would you plan the structure of the answers to these essay exam questions?

1. Was the X Act a continuation of earlier government policies or did it represent a departure from prior philosophies?

2. What seems to be the source of aggression in human beings? What can be done to lower the level of aggression in our society?

3. Choose one character from Novel X and, with specific references to the work, show how he or she functions as an "existential hero."

4. Define briefly the systems approach to business management. Illustrate how this differs from the traditional approach.

5. What is the cosmological argument? Does it prove that God exists?

6. Civil War historian Andy Bellum once wrote, "Blahblahblah blahed a blahblah, but of course if blahblah blahblahblahed the blah, then blahblahs are not blah but blahblah." To what extent and in what ways is the statement true? How is it false?

For more information on writing exam essays for the GED, please visit our Engagement area and go to the Community Writing and Education Station (CWEST) resources.

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Let’s face it: finals week can be a total nightmare. It’s that time of year when everything piles up, leaving you overwhelmed. 😰

But that ends now! No more last-minute cram sessions or panicked all-nighters because here’s our ultimate guide on how to study for finals so you can crush test day. 💪

1. Begin Early, at Least One Month in Advance 🗓️

2. create a finals game plan 📋, 3. change up your study space 🏞️, 4. allocate more time to your toughest classes 🕰️, 5. build a personal study guide 🗒️, 6. divide your study into ‘maybe,’ ‘probably,’ and ‘definitely’ ✍️, 7. use study apps 📱, 8. take advantage of the finals review sessions 🧑‍🏫, 9. go to group study sessions 📖, 10. study your notes 📓, 11. utilize creative aids for memorization 🗂️, 12. review, review, review at every opportunity 🔍, 13. take practice tests ✅, 14. consider a tutor 🤔, 15. make it fun 👌, 16. use spaced-repetition to learn, 17. harness the power of visual learning ✍️, 18. listen to recordings👂, 19. find a finals study buddy 📖, 20. give yourself a break 😴, 21. say yes to good food and exercise 🏋️, 22. don’t forget a good night’s sleep 🛌, 23. teach someone else the material 🧑‍🏫, bonus: exam tips for the day of your college final, how to study for finals: frequently asked questions.

a male college student wearing headphones learning how to study for finals by beginning early

Raise your hand if you’re tired of the chaotic scramble to study right before exams. What if we told you there’s a way to make studying less painful and more effective ? 🤔

Start your finals preparation a solid month in advance — trust us, it’s a game-changer. You avoid the rush of last-minute preparations and enjoy weekends without the nagging feeling that you should be studying instead.

But do you want to know the real secret? Breaking up your study sessions helps you learn better because it leads to improved retention and recall. 🌅

READ MORE: 17 Top Tips to Beat Procrastination in College — for Good

You have a clear study plan, know what and when to study , and break down lessons into manageable, focused sessions . Sounds like a pretty good tip for finals, right? ⏲️

Creating a study schedule is the key to achieving an effective game plan. Be specific and organized, outlining when and how to review each subject. Here’s an example to help you prepare your schedule.

TIP: Post your game plan somewhere visible , like your fridge or bedroom wall, to have a constant reminder that keeps you on track and focused. 🗒️

a-female-college-student-reviewing-for-finals-using-laptop-and-books-at-the-park

Find the perfect study spot (and change it occasionally) to improve your retention and focus . Another fun tip to acing your finals: mix it up by studying in various rooms at home, alternating between your usual learning spot, the library, your favorite cafe, and even the local park. ☕

This will help you retain information better and keep you energized and motivated so studying doesn’t feel like a chore. Break out of your study space rut and try something new; you might find your new favorite study spot. 😍

Conquering complex, hair-pulling subjects demands a focused strategy. But no need to stress. 🧠 Tackle the troublesome subjects first , and then breeze through the relatively easier ones right after to focus your energy on the topics where you struggle most .

This way, you won’t get blindsided before your finals and hopefully build a winning streak. 💯

a male college student sitting on the floor writing his own personal study guide on a notebook

A study guide helps you navigate through your course material , highlight essential concepts, and establish ways towards effective learning and preparedness for exams. 📓

Teachers could provide a guide for their subjects, but creating your personal study guide is a game-changing study tip that allows you to control your pace and approach when reviewing.

Outline important information to gain a deeper understanding of the material so that come test day, you’re able to remember details faster. 🧠

TIP : Request previous years’ question papers from your teachers . This will give you with a clearer understanding of potential topics and question formats.

a-male-college-student-with-white-headphones-dividing-his-study-materials-sitting-by-the-stairs-in-a-library

Instead of cramming everything from the start, channel your time and attention to the topics you’re certain will appear on the test. After you nail that down, move to the ‘Probably’ and then the ‘Maybe’ pile last. 📑

Following this study tip for finals lets you effectively cover lessons guaranteed to show up on the test while giving yourself leeway to master the rest of the syllabus. This method makes sure that you have the most important information down pat when time is an issue. 😉

Numerous apps offer features for creating and organizing your flashcards, notes, and quizzes. This technology becomes an effective way to structure your thoughts and enhance the accessibility of your learning materials.

Beyond note-taking tools, you’ll find apps tailored to specific knowledge and skills , including language learning, time management, and sleep tracking. Whatever your goal, elevate your learning sessions with the plethora of study apps available. 📱

The best part? Many of these apps are free or just cost a few bucks — a savvy, budget-friendly move toward acing your studies! 💰

READ MORE: Top 7 Study Apps to Make Student Life Easier

a group of male and female college students sitting in class for a review session

Preparing for final exams can be downright nerve-wracking, but there’s a way to get ahead. There’s no better study tip for finals than to attend the review sessions your professors will offer. 🙋

More often than not, these sessions will cover the lessons or modules that will make their way to the exam . You’re bound to hear important announcements, and tips, and even ask questions from the person who created the exam .

It’s also an opportunity to connect with classmates and build camaraderie before charging into hell week. 🎯

a-group-of-male-and-female-college-students-reviewing-for-finals-at-home

Different students call for different learning styles. But, joining a study group can have mega benefits you won’t get elsewhere.

Someone can break down a confusing literary theory or math formula for those struggling with these subjects. You can even have a fun quiz at the end of each session to test each other’s memory.

Whether it’s you or your professor who created the study group, the important thing is to meet. Set a session in the library, a coffee shop, the park, or even someone’s place . ☕

a female college student drinks water while studying her notes

To enhance your note-taking and exam preparation, employ various techniques for effective organization. Create well-structured notes using colors, bullet points, and visual aids like mind maps to emphasize essential concepts.

Utilize highlighters for emphasis and as tools to mark critical details. Transforming these highlighted points into flashcards will boost your understanding and retention and also leave you well-prepared to excel in your exams. 📝

This multifaceted approach, combined with a well-structured study schedule, will enhance your exam performance and foster a more profound grasp of the subject matter. 🧠

How do you study for finals?

Create a study schedule, focus on understanding key concepts, review class materials, take practice exams, and get sufficient rest for optimal retention.

Utilise active learning techniques like summarising and teaching the material to solidify understanding.

How long should you study for finals?

Studying for two to three hours each day over a few weeks before the exams is recommended because it can reduce last-minute cramming.

How many hours a day should you study for finals?

A well-planned study schedule is crucial for acing the finals.

Is one week enough to study for the final exams?

Some students can get ready for final exams in just a week if they’ve been keeping up with their studies.

But if you tend to procrastinate or have a lot to study, a week might not be enough. It’s important to make a study plan that fits your habits and gives you enough time to do well on your final exams .

Does studying on the day of a test help?

Studying a bit on exam day can help, but cramming isn’t great and might stress you out. It’s better to start early, but a quick review before the test can boost your confidence if you’ve already studied well.

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How to Prepare for an Essay Exam

Last Updated: April 20, 2023

This article was co-authored by Michelle Golden, PhD . Michelle Golden is an English teacher in Athens, Georgia. She received her MA in Language Arts Teacher Education in 2008 and received her PhD in English from Georgia State University in 2015. This article has been viewed 137,181 times.

The dreaded essay exam. Whether you like it or not, at some point in your life you are certain to encounter an exam composed entirely of essays. In the days leading up to the exam you may feel anxious or downright sick to your stomach. Fortunately, with a little bit of preparation and practice, you can turn any pre-exam jitters into a feeling of confidence, which will allow you to successfully tackle any essay exam.

Participating in Class

Actively participate. It’s important to find a participation method that works for you, whether that’s asking thought-provoking questions or commenting on the reading. Active participation just means involving yourself in some way, so even if you don’t feel comfortable speaking at length in front of your peers, try to ask a question every now and then.
Free yourself from distractions. Put away your cell phone or tablet and concentrate on listening and taking good notes. Now is not the time to work on homework for another class or to catch up with friends on Facebook.

Always have a notebook on hand. It is helpful to use one notebook per subject or course, so that you don’t confuse yourself when looking back.
Be sure to date your notes so that you can quickly reference or find the subject material covered on the exam.
If you struggle with taking notes, ask the instructor if you can record the lecture. You can then go back and listen to the recording and either take notes at your own pace or review any parts of the lecture, which will be relevant for the exam.

Take notes on what you’ve read and have questions ready for class.
Follow the schedule for reading assignments. Typically readings are broken out in a way that is both manageable and topical. If, however, you find yourself unable to keep up with the readings, speak with your instructor about a schedule that suits your particular needs. For example, if readings are assigned for every other day of class, you may need to break it out such that you are reading a portion every day.

Reviewing the Material

In addition to having one notebook per course, it may be helpful to also have an individual course binder or folder, which contains all course materials.
Take your organization to the next level by categorizing according to exams. Don’t throw away previous notes or materials from past exams. They may come in handy for midterm or final exams. Instead, organize the materials as if they were chapters, with chapter one being the first exam and so forth and so on.

Limit phone calls and any other distractions such as texting. It might help to turn your phone and other devices to silent mode while you’re studying.
The TV should always be off while you’re preparing for an exam.
If you want to listen to music, be sure it’s something that is relaxing or peaceful. Also, keep the music at a low level. Otherwise, music can easily become a distraction.

Get into the habit of reviewing class materials after each course. This will help to ease anxiety leading up to the exam, as you won’t have as much to review and will be able to clear up any questions that arise, prior to the big day.
Cramming doesn’t work. Multiple studies have shown that spacing out learning was more effective than cramming. [2] X Research source What’s more, cramming only increases the feeling of desperation which leads to panic, and then to test anxiety.

Creating an outline will also come in handy when drafting essay responses, so give yourself some practice and start with your class materials.

Practicing Ahead of Time

Step 1 Understand the structure of an essay.

Don’t wait until the night before to outline answers. As you’re studying and organizing your class materials, come up with potential questions along the way. You can then go back and review and revise as necessary.
Some instructors do specify a word count for essays. Don’t focus on counting words though. Write what you can and look for opportunities to flesh out your answers without being overly wordy.

Step 3 Recognize different types of questions.

Identify - typically short and direct answers will do.
Explain - requires a more detailed answer.
Compare - look for connections.
Argue - address this from your own perspective.

This is a good opportunity to proofread your work and to look for any grammatical errors as well.
Have a friend, parent or peer look over your essay as well. It is often helpful to have a fresh set of eyes review your work and provide feedback.

Community Q&A

For open-notes or open-book tests, study thoroughly anyway. This will prepare you for other exams or tests where you're not allowed to use notes, and will allow for you to complete the test faster and easier because you won't need to search for everything in the book or your notes. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Be positive. If you are negative and believe you will not do well, chances are that you will perform the way you expect to. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Practice writing. Be sure you can write fairly well in other situations so that you can express your ideas clearly. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/essay-exams/
↑ http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140917-the-worst-way-to-learn

About this article

If you’re worried about an upcoming essay exam, start reviewing your class notes by topic. One helpful way to prepare for your essay exam is to create a potential outline for each theme. For example, if you’re studying Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, you might come up with an essay outline about the themes of the play. Once you have a few of these outlines, do practice essays at home under timed conditions, using old exams or questions you can see from your outline. Additionally, make it easier to prepare for future exams by attending all classes, doing the assigned readings and taking clear notes. Keep reading for more tips, including how to understand what the essay questions are asking of you. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Midterm and Final Exam Examples

Exams are a great way to reinforce and evaluate students' understanding of the course content and main ideas. There are several different ways to approach exams including an in-class essay, short essays, multiple choice, short answer, fill in the blank, matching, quote/passage identification, character identification, etc. with plenty of flexibility for what an instructor deems important. Most instructors that choose to assign exams give both a midterm and final, though some just choose a comprehensive final. Of those who do give both, the midterm and final exam often look similar in style and content so students can expect consistency in the testing methods. Many instructors choose to test the first half of the course's information in the middle of the semester through a midterm and the rest of the semester at the final. In other words, the course's information is not cumulative and lets students focus on the most current concepts so they do not need to remember trivial details such as minor characters from the first text at the end of the semester.

Midterm Exams: Midterm exams often come at the midpoint in the semester. As stated previously in the overview, instructors sometimes divide the class into two sections so that the course's information is not cumulative. This strategy emphasizes making the overall picture or most recent concepts most important instead of testing on characters or plot lines from the first text of the semester.

Midterm Exam Examples:

Midterm Exam Example
Midterm Exam Study Guide Example

Final Exams: Final exams are similar to midterms except given at the end of the semester. Keep in mind that according to university policy,

"Final examination week is part of the regular semester. Student attendance shall be consistent with University policy. The final in-class examination period is intended for the end-of-semester examination. No in-class examination constituting more than 10% of the final course grade may be given in undergraduate courses during the week preceding the final examination period of the semester; laboratory, performance and other alternative classes (e.g., courses in the individualized mathematics program) excluded."

This does not indicate that instructors must give a final, only that they must use the time. If you do decide to give a final, here are a few sample finals to give you ideas for your own. Many of them follow the same format and structure of the midterm exams.

Final Exam Examples:

Final Exam Example
Final Exam Study Guide Example
Final Exam Example with Study Guide

5 Tips for Studying for Final Exams in College

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B.A., English, University of Michigan

Everyone in school has to take them – final exams, that is. But, not everyone knows how to study for final exams, and college is where things get tricky. Exams in college are much different than they are in high school. Likely, in high school, you received a study guide, or an explicit list of information to know for your final exam. In college, you may not get anything at all, so you'll need to study in a very different way. Here are a few tips for how to study for final exams in college. Use them to your very best advantage!

Identify the Type of Exam

Martin Shields/Getty Images

Some professors or adjuncts will give you an essay exam at the end of the semester. Just think of it – tons and tons of information crammed into a three-hour essay . Sounds fabulous, doesn't it?

Other teachers stick strictly to short answer questions, while others will give you a multiple-choice exam or a combination of sorts. The variations are endless, so it's imperative that you find out the type of exam you'll be receiving and whether or not you'll be able to use your notes.

Multiple-choice final exams are a whole different ball of wax than essay final exams, and as such, must be studied for in quite a different way! Ask, if your teacher isn't forthcoming.

Divide and Conquer

Cavan Images/Getty Images

So, you have a semester's worth of material to remember for the big day. How do you manage to learn it all? Some of the stuff you were taught at the beginning of the first nine weeks has gone right out of your head!

Divvy up the material you have to learn according to the number of days prior to the day before the test. (You need an overall review day before the final). Then, divide the material accordingly.

For example, if you have fourteen days before the exam, and you want to start studying, then chop the semester into thirteen equal parts and study a section on each day. Leave one day before the final to review everything . That way, you won't get overwhelmed with the enormity of the task.

Schedule Time

Bill Varie/Getty Images

As you know if you're a college student, it's not only important to learn how to study for final exams, it's important to find the time to do it! You're busy – it's understandable.

You must carve out an hour or so a day to fit studying into your schedule. It will not present itself – you'll have to sacrifice some things to get it done.

Learn Your Learning Style

Frank van Delft/Getty Images

You may be a kinesthetic learner and not even realize it. Take a learning styles quiz and figure it out prior to studying – your solo, sit-at-a-desk study session may not be doing you any favors at all!

Or, you might be a group study person. Have you given it a shot? Sometimes, students study the best for final exams with others.

Or, maybe you're into studying solo. That's great! But figure out if it's better for you to study with music or without, and choose the best study spot for you. A crowded coffee shop with white noise may be less distracting for you than the library. Everyone is different!

In college, it's imperative that you figure out how you learn best, as you'll have little guidance. At this stage of the game, professors assume you know what you're doing. Make sure that you do!

Review Session

Justin Lewis/Getty Images

More than likely, your professor or TA will host a review session before the final exam. By all means, attend the darn thing. If you fail to go to this class, then you're really in big trouble! This is "How to study for final exams" 101! In it, you'll learn things like the type of exam it is, what kind of information you'll be expected to showcase, and if it's an essay exam, you'll probably get a selection of topics you may see on test day. Whatever you do, don't miss it!

Preparing for Final Exams
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Exam Strategies: Short Answer & Essay Exams

Essay exams involve a significant written component in which you are asked to discuss and expand on a topic. These could include written responses in the form of a formal essay or a detailed short-answer response.

Short answer vs essay questions

Preparing for an essay exam

Answering essay questions.

Check out our visual resources for " Test Taking Strategies: Short Answer & Essay Questions " below!

What is the difference between a short answer and an essay question?

Both short-answer and essay questions ask you to demonstrate your knowledge of course material by relating your answer to concepts covered in the course.
Essay questions require a thesis (argument) and supporting evidence (from course material - lectures, readings, discussions, and assignments) outlined in several paragraphs, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Short-answer questions are more concise than essay answers - think of it as a “mini-essay” - and use a sentence or two to introduce your topic; select a few points to discuss; add a concluding sentence that sums up your response.
Review your course material - look for themes within the topics covered, use these to prepare sample questions if your instructor has not given direction on what to expect from essay questions.
Create outlines to answer your practice questions. Choose a definite argument or thesis statement and organize supporting evidence logically in body paragraphs. Try a mnemonic (like a rhyme or acronym) to help remember your outline.
Practice! Using your outline, try using a timer to write a full response to your practice or sample questions within the exam time limit.
Review the question carefully. Think about what it is asking - what are you expected to include? What material or examples are relevant?
Underline keywords in the question to identify the main topic and discussion areas.
Plan your time. Keep an eye on the time allowed and how many essay questions you are required to answer. Consider the mark distribution to determine how much time to spend on each question or section.
Make a plan. Take a few minutes to brainstorm and plan your response - jot down a brief outline to order your points and arguments before you start to write.
Include a thesis statement in your introduction so that your argument is clear, even if you run out of time, and help structure your answer.
Write a conclusion , even if brief - use this to bring your ideas together to answer the question and suggest the broader implications.
Clearly and concisely answer the question :
In your introduction, show that you understand the question and outline how you will answer it.
Make one point or argument per paragraph and include one or two pieces of evidence or examples for each point.
In your conclusion, summarize the arguments to answer the question.

"Test Taking Strategies: Short Answer & Essay Questions"

Does your next test have short answer or essay questions? Let's look at how to prepare for these type of questions, how to answer these types of questions, and strategies to keep in mind during the exam. Fight exam writer's block and achieve your best marks yet!

"Test Taking Strategies: Short Answer & Essay Questions" PDF
"Test Taking Strategies: Short Answer & Essay Questions" Video

Looking for more strategies and tips? Check out MUN's Academic Success Centre online!

Carnegie Mellon University. (n.d.). Successful exam strategies. Carnegie Mellon University: Student Academic Success. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://www.cmu.edu/student-success/other-resources/fast-facts/exam-strategies.pdf

Memorial University of Newfoundland. (n.d.). Exam strategies: Short answer & essay exams. Memorial University of Newfoundland: Academic Success Centre. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://www.mun.ca/munup/vssc/learning/exam-strategies-essays.php

Trent University. (n.d.). How to understand and answer free response or essay exam questions. Trent University: Academic Skills. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://www.trentu.ca/academicskills/how-guides/how-study/prepare-and-write-exams/how-understand-and-answer-free-response-or-essay-exam

University of Queensland Australia. (n.d.). Exam tips. University of Queensland Australia: Student support, study skills. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/student-support/study-skills/exam-tips

University of Waterloo. (n.d.). Exam questions: Types, characteristics, and suggestions. University of Waterloo: Centre for Teaching Excellence. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/developing-assignments/exams/questions-types-characteristics-suggestions

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What is unique about essay exams?

What is the difference between a short-answer question and an essay question, how do i prepare for an essay exam, how do i use practise questions, how can i prepare if i get the questions in advance, how can i prepare for a take-home exam.

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Essay exams have a significant written component, such as detailed short answer questions and/or formal essays. These exams may ask you to:

Show what you know about the course content and communicate this knowledge effectively.
Be analytical and critical about the themes of the course.
Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between course content, course objectives, and the practical and theoretical perspectives used within the course.
Integrate and apply what you have learned in lectures, readings, and discussions.
Articulate connections between the course material in complete sentences and paragraphs.

Both short-answer and essay questions ask you to demonstrate your knowledge of course material by relating your answer back to concepts covered in the course.

Essay questions require a thesis (argument) and supporting evidence, which comes from knowledge gained from course lectures, readings, seminar discussions, and assignments.

Short-answer questions are more concise than essay answers and they generally do not require an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Go beyond the topics that are covered and try to figure out the broader themes that the course explores.
Use this information to prepare sample questions.
Keep the content fresh in your mind.
Look for recurring themes, ideas, concepts, and trends.
Organize your study notes around these major ideas.
Go beyond simply reading your notes.
Describe concepts aloud, explain them to a friend, or use a strategy such as concept mapping to organize your thoughts and show how concepts are related or different.
Identify the areas that you understand well and the areas where you can strengthen your knowledge and understanding.
Review your notes from lectures, seminars, textbook, online notes, and other course materials to create summary or study notes.
Formulate practice questions based on the different categories of questions described above. Use old midterms, course outlines, study partners, and lecture and text notes to help you predict and create possible short-answer or essay questions.
Create outlines to answer your possible questions. Choose a definite argument and organize the supporting evidence logically.
Try mnemonics such as rhymes or acronyms to help you remember your outline.
Use a timer to practise answering your questions within a limited time frame.
Arrange a study group to discuss possible questions and key issues or concepts from the course.
Research the questions from your text, lecture notes, and other supplemental resources, and write down outlines for your answers ahead of time.
Memorize an outline or key points.
Prepare as if you were going to write the exam on campus.
Study before you receive the take-home exam or you may spend too much time researching the material and not enough time writing the exam.
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Next: Write Essay Exams >>
Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024 1:41 PM
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How to Pass Final Exams

Last Updated: May 1, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed. . Alexander Ruiz is an Educational Consultant and the Educational Director of Link Educational Institute, a tutoring business based in Claremont, California that provides customizable educational plans, subject and test prep tutoring, and college application consulting. With over a decade and a half of experience in the education industry, Alexander coaches students to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence while achieving skills and the goal of achieving skills and higher education. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University. There are 51 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 786,715 times.

If you’re a student, exams are an important part not only of any class, but also your final grade. Preparing throughout the semester is the most effective way to do well on your final exams. Ultimately, there’s just no shortcut for knowing the material. However, even if it’s the night before your final exam and you’re feeling unprepared, don’t panic. There are plenty of things you can do to help you pass your exams.

Preparing Throughout the Semester

Make sure to pay attention to the breakdown of how assignments, attendance, and exams factor in to your grade. This will help you prioritize how much you need to study, and where to focus your attention.
If you have any questions on the syllabus, ask the professor. It’s much better to ask a question at the beginning than plow on with no idea of what you’re doing.

Most exams are based on what is covered in class, so skipping class is never advisable. Some teachers will penalize absences, meaning you might not even pass the class if you skip.
Teachers and professors usually discuss what is likely to be on an exam during classes, so if you aren’t in class you can’t get this crucial information.
If you cannot attend class, let your professor know in advance. Ask her what you will miss in class and if there is anything you can do to make up for the absence and get the information.
Don’t ask your teacher or professor questions like “Did I miss anything in class yesterday?” The assumption is that all days give you valuable information, and questions like this come across as disrespectful of your teacher.
Don’t “zone out.” Sometimes, it’s tempting to play solitaire or check your phone during class instead of listening, especially if you’re in a class you feel you understand pretty well. However, you might miss something important if you do this. Stay attentive for the whole class period. [2] X Research source

Come prepared. Use a binder or notebook, and bring pens or pencils to class. If you will be discussing things from a book, bring a highlighter too. Teachers will often say things like, “This passage is very significant for understanding ____ in general” or “Make sure you understand the information in this sidebar.” If your teacher notes something specific in class, mark it immediately. [4] X Research source
Taking notes is a delicate balancing act between getting too little and too much information. You don’t want to write down everything a professor says, just the important information. For example, it’s less important to know what type of planes bombed Dresden in February of 1945 than why the bombing was significant for World War II.
Try using keywords instead of trying to copy out full sentences. Trying to take dictation from your professor could mean you don’t get the essence of what’s really important. Try using key phrases and words instead of full sentences.
Take notes by hand. Studies have shown that people learn more by writing notes instead of typing them in to a computer or recording them on a device. [5] X Research source
Check out some note-taking systems. There are a bunch of systems for learning how to take notes. Cal Poly has information on several types, along with their pros and cons.

Make sure to take notes on the reading assignment as you read. Just like taking notes from lectures, you only need to write down the most important information. [6] X Research source
Skim back over your reading assignments every few weeks. You don’t have to go through everything in-depth, but going back over the main points will help them “gel” in your memory, so you can access them later on the exam.

Step 5 Do papers and other class assignments.

The material you use and produce for any type of assignment may show up on an exam. Everything from math or scientific problems to short essays will help you be prepared and pass an exam.
Participating in class discussions will also help you pass an exam because it gives you a chance to verbalize and work out your thoughts with other students and the professor.

Prepping for Each Exam

Step 1 Know where you stand in the class.

If you aren’t sure what your grade is, check your syllabus. Most teachers give “weights” to assignments and other course elements (participation, etc.). You should be able to get a rough idea of how you’re doing from this.
If you’re still unsure about your performance, talk with your teacher.

Step 2 Find out what material the exam is going to cover and what format it is.

Check to see if this information is on the class syllabus. Paying attention in class will also help, since most teachers and professors will announce what material the exam will cover.
If you are not sure or missed a day of class, you can ask your teacher or professor, but it’s important to not annoy them with repeated or overly detailed requests. Simply asking “could you please tell me what material I need to know for the exam?” is enough to direct your study time. [8] X Trustworthy Source Edutopia Educational nonprofit organization focused on encouraging and celebrating classroom innovation Go to source

For example, if you know that you need absolute silence to concentrate on the material you need to learn, you can either study in a library or in a quiet room at home. You may also be someone who needs a little noise or commotion to help you focus.
”Multitasking” is a myth. While you might think you’re able to watch TV, text your friends, and study for exams at the same time, your brain simply can’t handle that many competing streams of information. Give yourself some quiet, dedicated study time, and leave the other stuff for your leisure time. [10] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source [11] X Research source

If you are in college and have an exam in one of your major or minor fields, you’ll want to give the most time to studying for these exams over general education courses, for instance.
If you are doing poorly in any class, devote enough time to studying for this class to make sure that you pass it and don’t have to repeat it.

You can study simply by reviewing your notes for 20-30 minutes a day. If you have any questions, ask the professor.

Studying by reviewing class notes, thinking of discussions, or going to a study group will often remind you of information you forgot over the course of the term.
It’s important to have confidence that you will pass. But beware of overconfidence, which can sabotage your ability to think clearly about an exam.
Consider making free associations between information you learn and what you know. You can also make up things to help you out. [13] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source
It may also help you to write index cards with information you need to know.

Step 7 Join a study group or class study session.

Teachers and professors will sometimes offer study sessions for their classes. These are an excellent opportunity to learn material that will likely be on an exam as well as ask any lingering questions you may have.

You can take any essay or problem and use it as your mock exam. [18] X Research source
Make sure you do the mock exam in the same allotted time as the actual exam. [19] X Research source
If you test yourself just twice, you will remember 75-80% of the material two weeks later. With no practice tests, that figure is just 20%.
Reader Poll: We asked 180 wikiHow readers, and 67% of them agreed that the best way to prepare for a test is to take online practice tests . [Take Poll]

You will not learn a lot of new content within 24 hours of an exam. [21] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source

Caring for Your Body and Mind

Stick to your regular sleep cycle as much as possible. Disrupting your sleep schedule by staying up too late or waking up before your body has fully rested messes with your REM (rapid-eye movement) sleep, which will leave you feeling sluggish and can hinder your memory. [23] X Research source
Set aside a specific time to study for an exam and use that time wisely. Then, go to bed! [24] X Research source
Take off at least one full day a week to give your brain and body a chance to rest and recover from studying.

Try starting your day off with complex carbohydrates, such as oatmeal and whole grains. Complex carbohydrates help your body produce energy that your brain needs to perform. Because they digest slowly over a longer period of time, you’re less likely to get nasty blood sugar spikes and crashes, too.
You might also want to incorporate some eggs into your diet. Eggs contain choline, which is linked to memory and cognitive performance. [26] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
Oily fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, are also tied to brain function. A salmon croquette isn’t going to ace your test for you, but the protein and nutrients will definitely help boost your brainpower. [27] X Research source
Avoid simple carbohydrates and processed sugar. These may give you a temporary energy bump, but they cause crashes and fatigue later. If you crave something sweet, go for fruits -- especially those that contain vitamin C, which may help improve your mental functioning. [28] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source Salty snackers may prefer pumpkin seeds or nuts, which have vitamin E and zinc.

Adolescents (under 18) should limit caffeine intake to about 100mg a day. [30] X Research source Depending on the variety, that can be as little as a single cup of coffee, or two 12-ounce cans of cola. [31] X Research source Adults should keep caffeine intake between 200mg-400mg a day. [32] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Men need, on average, 13 cups (3 liters) of water per day. Women need about 9 cups (2.2 liters) of water per day. [33] X Trustworthy Source National Institutes of Health U.S. government agency for biomedical and public health research Go to source
Get yourself a refillable water bottle. You may be more likely to drink water from a bottle than a glass, especially if you often drink bottled soft drinks.
Avoid alcohol, especially the night before a big exam. In addition to the hangovers and other nasty side effects, alcohol dehydrates you, which can cause fatigue on test day.

Use outcome and process visualization to imagine yourself achieving your goal. Imagine what it looks like for you to pass your final exam. Imagine this success in as much detail as possible. Then, imagine the steps you need to take to achieve your goal. In this case, things like “taking notes,” “going to class,” and “studying” are obvious steps you could envision. [35] X Research source
Use the “palming method” of visualization to help you relax. Close your eyes and cover them with the palms of your hands. Don’t touch your eyeballs. Imagine a scene that’s very relaxing to you, such as a day at the beach or curled up in bed with a good book. Picture as many details as possible to make it realistic, and spend 1-2 minutes enjoying the relaxing scene. Open your eyes and wait 1-2 minutes, then repeat the visualization scene. This process will give you a “safe place” to help you feel calm and relaxed before you sit down to your exam.

A few minutes of deep breathing will oxygenate your brain and help you feel relaxed and ready to perform. Inhale deeply through your nose for a 4-count. Hold the breath for 1-2 seconds, then slowly release the breath through your mouth for a 4-count. Repeat this 6-8 times per minute for 5 minutes or so. [37] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source
Try yoga . The deep breathing and meditation in yoga have been scientifically shown to reduce test anxiety. [38] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Try the “tensing and differential relaxation method.” This involves tensing and relaxing your muscles all at once. Put your feet flat on the floor while sitting in a chair. Grab the seat. Push down with your feet, and pull up on the chair at the same time for 5 seconds. Relax for 5 seconds, then repeat 2-3 times.

Get at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity activity, such as jogging or brisk walking, per week. [41] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Try things that get your heart rate pumping, like swimming, jogging, martial arts, or even dancing.
A little is better than none. Even 20 minutes a day of cardio can boost your memory. [42] X Trustworthy Source American Psychological Association Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists Go to source

Your brain consumes glucose when you’re studying. Give yourself a mini-break (5 minutes or so) every hour. Stretch, take a short walk, or grab a brain-boosting snack such as fruit or almonds. This gives your body time to replenish your glucose stores. [44] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Business Review Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices Go to source

Performing on Exam Day

Read over your course notes the morning of the exam. Figure out if there were any subjects the professor highlighted in lectures and focus on these.
If you haven’t done any reading, read the introductions and conclusions of any article and books. This will help you figure out the most important arguments and facts about a subject.
Have a study group with friends the night before the exam if you can. Talk through any points that you may not understand.
Review the hardest stuff right before you go to bed the night before the exam. This may help you recall it more easily during test-time. [45] X Research source

A good meal will give your body and brain energy to perform their best during the exam.

Don’t eat heavy meals before an exam, which will divert blood from your brain for digestion. Soup or a salad with some protein are good, light choices that will give you energy without weighing you down.
Make sure that you’re hydrated before an exam. One of the symptoms of dehydration is fatigue, so bring a bottle of water with you.
You can have a cup of coffee or tea if you like. One or two cups may temporarily increase feelings of alertness. [47] X Trustworthy Source American Heart Association Leading nonprofit that funds medical research and public education Go to source The effect wears off fairly quickly, however, and more than two cups could actually cause impairment, so use moderation. [48] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
Chewing mints or mint gum will also help you stay alert. Studies have shown that mints or mint gum increased alertness, accelerated reaction time, and increased how people process information. [49] X Research source
Don’t load up on sugar just before a test. If you’re craving something sweet, try dark fruits (plums, blueberries, etc.) or a small square of dark chocolate. [50] X Trustworthy Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital Go to source

If you attended class, did your work, and studied, you can be confident that you will pass the exam.
If you took the time to go to a study session or discuss the exam and your standing in class with your professor, you can have confidence in your ability to pass the exam.
Knowing that you have formulated a plan to complete each section of the exam will also instill confidence in you.

Make sure to find out where your exam is ahead of time, and note the location in a place you can easily find it later.
Set an alarm so you arrive on time. In fact, setting more than one alarm may help you feel more at ease.

Answer easy questions first. Not only will this get them out of the way, it can help boost your confidence for the harder stuff.
Eliminate any obviously wrong answers. If you can, cross out any answers that are obviously wrong. Even if you don’t know the right answer, you increase your chances of guessing correctly.
For essay questions, write an outline before writing the essay. Note down your main “argument” or thesis plus the main points you want to hit. This will help you stay on track as you write your response.
Review your answers before you submit your exam. Look for any incomplete or missing answers, errors, etc.

Cheating will guarantee not only that you fail a class, but also could have other significant consequences such as expulsion.

Before you start, read over the entire exam and identify the easiest, most difficult, and most time consuming sections of the exam.
Break the time of the exam down by section. For example, if you have two hours to finish two essays, you can take one hour to compose each. Or if there is one essay and eight identification and short essays, you can break this up based on time as well as your strengths and weaknesses. [52] X Research source
Decide on the best strategy for you. After you’ve read the exam, figure out the best strategy to finish the exam based on your strengths and weaknesses.

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Expert Q&A

Never leave a question incomplete or blank. Unless a wrong answer adds negative points (which is rare), it's better to guess than to write nothing. Write everything you know about the question, even if it's not much! Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

If a notecard with notes is allowed during an exam, use that to your advantage. Write as small as possible and prioritize information that you often forget.
I like to make a study schedule where I study two chapters of each subject every day. When I finish all of the chapters, I start over again.
Don't be afraid to ask questions before or during the exam. That's what your teacher or professor is there for!

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About This Article

To pass final exams, take practice exams from the back of your textbooks or online to identify your weak areas so you can give them extra attention. You can also study for your exams by reading the introductions and conclusions to your assigned readings, which will help you learn the most important points without reading all of the chapters. If you took notes in class, go over them the morning of the exam to quickly refresh your memory. During the exam, answer easy questions first to get them out of the way and boost your confidence for harder questions. For tips from our Education reviewer on how to tackle essay questions on an exam, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Final Exams in a School Essay

Exams have been continually used as a tool in testing the student’s ability in each and every subject in various learning institutions throughout the world. Exams are more often used to measure the understanding of particular concepts after the completion of the normal classroom teaching of a particular course. There have been different reactions from the people when asked if exams are really efficient in the learning process. Some skeptics have argued that exams lead to rot learning. The importance of exams is that students of English are motivated to learn English as there are clear goals. This is so because after marking the exams the students are awarded some kind of certification that they have successfully done the English course.

An English exam is usually aimed at testing the four skills which are listening, reading, writing, and listening. The advantage of this is that the exams are usually founded on realistic communicative contexts. The exams are also similar to the activities of the students. Through these exams, the students are motivated to study English and practically use it correctly. Through these exams, learners not only study grammar in the classroom but also acquire practical skills for communication.

It is necessary to have a final exam in English because English is the formal language for teaching in most of the higher institutions of learning. It is important therefore to have final exams in English for it is the only sure way of preparing learners for University Education and college. It also prepares students who are willing to study abroad and maybe even work there.

In English exams, language use is tested in a meaningful and realistic way. This is a benefit for students who are studying English as a foreign language. Through this realistic testing by way of exams students are able to learn and understand English efficiently and gain proficiency in it. It has been known that the impact of exams on language students has been positive. Therefore, the learners studying English as a second language experience real communication in a foreign language (British Council Examinations Services, 2000).

For an employer to be able to determine the competency of a leaner there must be some kind of valid certification. This certification can only be awarded by way of examinations. These certificates are usually awarded to learners after successful completion of English subject or course and this certification is internationally recognized by universities and employers all over the world.

Struggling students in schools are encouraged to perform even better through exams. Some researches have shown that final English exams do indeed motivate the learners to continue studying it instead of dropping it as a subject or a course. By making the learners sit for a final exam they are not simply handed certification but they are made to have a basic understanding of the language skills that are essential for the outside world.

Through the final exam, the learners become capable of dealing with the challenges of life. They simply get the ability to survive in the real world. Devoid of final English exams the learners are approved diplomas and certificates without the necessary abilities and qualities to succeed being instilled in them.

Final English exams are used as a step to raising the student’s standards. Exams are therefore used as a form of measurement as well as a way of raising student achievement. By way of exams, the teachers who produce a significant increase in the student passage rates in English are rewarded through merit. Final exam in English has benefited struggling students as more attention and resources are devoted to them. It is only through exams that struggling students are identified.

The final English is made more important by the fact that all the other subjects are taught in the English language. It is therefore important that the learners are examined to make them proficient in English which shall translate to them grasping the concepts in the other subjects. By testing the learners through a final exam in English the school administration can be able to identify a class of students that is at risk of failing thereby provide extra tutoring and counseling to this class of students. This, therefore, prevents any future failure in the English course or subject.

In a nutshell, this paper was about the importance of final exams in a school. There is a wide range of benefits both to the teachers and the learners. The school administration can also identify areas of weakness in English teaching and do something about it.

Career Success Through UK Qualification , British Council 2008. Web.

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Top law school final exam tips

High-level tips to help you prepare for your law school finals.

1. What to expect 2. Professor preferences 3. Read the facts 4. Answer the question 5. Organize your thoughts 6. Before you start writing 7. IRAC format 8. Argue both sides of legal issues

What to expect from your law school final exams

A full semester of taking copious notes, reading, briefing, outlining, classroom discussions, and surviving the Socratic Method culminates in one final act. Writing law school final exams.

Most professors give essay exams for law school finals. Some are single-topic, short-answer questions. Others can go on for pages — known as issue-spotter exams. Some are taken in class, while others are take-home, allowing students more than the traditional amount of time to answer the essay questions. There are open-book and closed-book exams. And there are those few professors who create multiple-choice exams or (in rare cases) give oral exams.

Whatever type of exam your professor chooses to administer, you will be tested on your ability to analyze and resolve legal problems and demonstrate your grasp of the materials. Your course grade will be largely, if not exclusively, based on your final exam performance.

Here are some high-level tips to help you prepare for your law school finals.

Law professor stands in an empty class before law school final exams

Understand your professor preferences

The foundation for success on your law school finals is to know who is grading the exam. Your mission is to make that person’s life easier. Ultimately, different professors prefer different types of answers. Some want extreme detail — every possible interpretation of every possible fact. Some like answers straight to the point within a page count. It’s okay to ask your professor.

It’s a given that all professors expect well-organized, legible answers, no matter how brief or expansive.

Read the facts carefully

Read the entire problem through once rather quickly to get a general understanding. Focus on the question you are being asked to respond to at the end of the problem.

Then, read through the scenario again, slowly and carefully. This time, evaluate every word and phrase to identify all potential issues. Applying the law to the facts presented is critical in any law school exam. And changing the facts even slightly could result in a completely different result.

A law student takes a law school final exam

Answer the question that is being asked

Always keep in mind the specific question you are actually being asked to answer. Although you may receive credit for ancillary information provided in your answer, you will only receive maximum credit if you specifically answer the question that is presented. Therefore, you must determine what role the professor is asking you to assume before answering. Are you the defendant’s attorney, or do you represent the plaintiff? Are you a judge trying to resolve the dispute? It makes a real difference in how you answer.

Attempts to include unrelated material in your answer could backfire if your professor believes you are incapable of ruling out irrelevant information.

Organize your thoughts

Organization is critical to writing a strong essay answer on any law school finals. After all, if the professor cannot follow your analysis, how can they grade it fairly and appropriately?

Before you start writing, chart the issues in the manner in which you will resolve them. Again, make sure the issues are related to the actual question you are being asked to answer. Arrange the issues in the sequence in which you would expect a court to address them (i.e., normally jurisdictional issues first, then liability, then remedies). Capture the points you will discuss in sufficient detail to prompt you to think the problem through to a fair and practical solution.

Complete your analysis and organization before you start writing

You may find that you devote a solid one-fourth of the time allocated to reading, analyzing the problem and organizing your answer. That’s okay. A logical organization and clear expression of ideas will strengthen your answer. This purposeful approach may even bolster an answer that’s somewhat weak.

A law student sits in a classroom with other students while taking a law school final exam

Use the IRAC format for each issue raised

As you begin to write out your answer, we recommend you analyze each dispute using the IRAC method.

First, state the issue in precise legal terms (i.e., “Did the defendant’s mistake in computing his bid prevent the formation of an enforceable contract?”). Be careful to avoid generalizations or oversimplification of the issue.

Next, state the applicable law. Be sure to define the pertinent elements of a rule as well as any terms of art.

Application

Then, apply the rules to the facts using arguments. Avoid the common error of stating a rule and then jumping straight to the conclusion. Your professor will not infer a supporting argument for you — you must spell it out. Remember to use the Issue T you created earlier to remind you to discuss which facts in the fact pattern support (or prevent) application of the rule. Discuss and weigh each fact given and the logical inference to be drawn from it. Be sure to include counterarguments where possible.

Finally, come to a straightforward conclusion on each issue. Make sure you have clearly answered the question asked, and you have not left an issue hanging. If a number of outcomes are possible, discuss the merits of each, but always select one position as your conclusion and state why. In close cases, it is generally best to select the most practical and fair conclusion. Just don’t consider yourself bound by the “general rule” or “majority view” in answering on a law school final exam unless the question clearly calls for such.

Argue both sides of legal issues you spot and remember policy concerns

Once a dispute has been framed and a legal theory has been asserted, identify any problems surrounding the theory’s application as well as arguments that each side can make in support of their position.

Also, if time allows, include just a sentence or two regarding the policy implications of your conclusions. Law is meant to provide order in society and, when imposing laws, you should always predict the impact that they will have.

A female law student researches law school final exam tips at the law library

Take a deep breath and try not to panic

If you find yourself panicking, not understanding the issues presented or not remembering the rules related to such issues, don’t panic. Instead, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Then, start working systematically through the information with these tips and do your best on your law school finals.

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Using the IRAC method

Learn more about using the IRAC method in law school

Outlining 101

Tips for developing your law school note-taking and outlining system.

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About Professor Nathenson
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IP@STU: IP Certificate
About Civil Procedure
Assignments
Study resources
Nathenson.org MBE resources
YouTube MBE playlists
Subject matter jurisdiction
Due Process, notice, service
Personal jurisdiction
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Claim & Issue Preclusion
Innovations & Patent Management
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- About Professor Nathenson
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- Legal scholarship
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- About Civil Procedure
- Syllabus
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- About Professor Nathenson
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- Claim & Issue Preclusion
- Appeals
- Innovations & Patent Management
- Intellectual Property
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Examination resources

Tips, techniques, and mark-up codes:.

Tips & Techniques on Civ Pro Essay Exams
The importance of developing skill # 2 (getting it all down on paper), with basic diversity fact patterns (getting it down on paper)
Codes used in marking up student essays
Uncharted Territory: Your Journey through Law School Finals from 2014-15 ALI Brittnay Wittnebel
Preparing for Finals from 2014-15 ALI Brittnay Wittnebel
Avoiding negative issue spotting and “bad smelling” counterarguments
Issues “reasonably raised” versus “negative issue spotting”
Making arguments and counterarguments
Types of sub-conclusions and overall conclusions
YouTube video on negative issue spotting, conclusions, argumentation

Practice essay questions:

Note that these questions are more straightforward than what you might find on an actual examination. These questions are intended to help students build examination-taking skills.

Two basic diversity fact patterns
PJ practice essay: Amazone (simplified)
PJ practice essay: Amazone (more difficult)
PJ practice essay on yPhone by 2014-15 ALI Brittnay Wittnebel
Supplemental jurisdiction practice essay by 2014-15 ALI Brittnay Wittnebel
Student-submitted practice essays
Relation-back practice essay
Summary judgment practice essay

Prior examinations:

Exams from 4-credit single-semester course starting Fall 2016.

The links below include actually administered essay questions along with selected multiple-choice questions. Students studying for a midterm are cautioned against attempting final exam questions, as they incorporate more material than we have yet covered, and final exam questions are written for a level of skills competency more advanced than you will have by early October.

New: Fall 2022: final exam essays and 20 MC questions [ MC explanations ]
New: Fall 2022 midterm essay and MC [ MC explanations ]
Fall 2021 – Serving as administrative dean
Fall 2020: final exam essays and 20 MC questions [ new MC explanations ]
Fall 2020 midterm essay and MC [ MC explanations ]
Fall 2019: final exam essays and 10 MC questions [ MC explanations ]
Fall 2019: midterm essays and MC [ MC explanations ]
Fall 2018: final exam essays and 9 MC questions [ MC explanations ]
Fall 2017 – On Sabbatical
Fall 2016: final exam essays and 10 MC questions [ MC explanations ]

Selected exams from year-long six-semester course through 2015.

Essay questions from 2011 to 2015 are also online. However, I would caution current Civ Pro students regarding those questions as they are structured very differently (and are in some cases a good bit lengthier) from my current testing approach.

Civil Procedure I (focused on jurisdiction and venue)

Civil Procedure I (Fall 2015) [ multiple-choice answers here ]
Civil Procedure I (Fall 2015) practice exam [ multiple-choice answers here ]
Civil Procedure I (Fall 2014)
Civil Procedure I (Fall 2013)
Civil Procedure I (Fall 2012) [using Glannon casebook]
Civil Procedure I (Fall 2011) [using Marcus casebook, semester started with FRCP and joinder]

Civil Procedure II (focused on FRCP)

Civil Procedure II (Spring 2015)
Civil Procedure II (Spring 2014)
Civil Procedure II (Spring 2013) [using Glannon casebook, coverage included pleadings, joinder, and Erie ]
Civil Procedure II (Spring 2012) [using Marcus casebook, semester included jurisdiction]
Civil Procedure II (Spring 2011) [using Marcus casebook, semester included jurisdiction]

Updated Sept. 25, 2023

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WASSCE 2024: How WAEC Marks Students' Examination Paper

The stages of marking students/candidates' examination papers in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) have emerged
The staff members of the regional examination do not mark the WAEC scripts of the candidates themselves
WAEC set up a committee of experts who come up with the marking guide that the examiners use to mark the examination papers

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Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5 years of experience covering basic and tertiary education in Nigeria and worldwide

Lagos state - The 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has commenced in Nigeria with millions of secondary students sitting for the examination across the country.

It is the WAEC results universities and polytechnics use to determine who they will admit into their institution.

WASSCE 2024: How WAEC marks students' examination paper

In this article, Legit.ng focuses on how WAEC marks the examination papers of candidates/students according to BBC Pidgin .

NGO to start verifying politicians certificates before election, partners with IPAC

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WAEC officials who mark candidates' scripts

It is not WAEC staff members who mark students’ examination papers but examiners who are appointed by the examination body to mark the scripts.

Examiners are people are experienced people in the education sector, who know the classroom in and out.

WAEC set up a committee of experts who come up with the marking guide to prevent manipulation.

It is the Committee of experts who grill the examiners on all aspects of the marking scheme for a marking exercise called coordination.

Even when the actual marking starts, the committee does not leave the examiners on their own.

Each member of the Committee of Experts is supervised by one highly experienced examiner who is the Team Leader.

The examiners are divided into small groups, and each of them is supervised by a highly experienced examiner who is the Team Leader.

JAMB 2024: How UTME candidates can apply for change of institution

It is the team leader who checks and vets the group members progressively to make sure they are following the guidelines.

The Team Leaders themselves are supervised by more experienced examiners called Chief Examiners.

After marking the examination papers, WAEC will employ another group of people called the Checkers

The main role of Checkers is to ensure all the marks the examiners give are recorded correctly and are transferred to the right score sheets.

WAEC does not reveal the identity of the examiners they use to mark the exam papers.

Which grades does WAEC use?

WAEC grade for each exam subject is A to F.

A stands excellent while F means the candidate fails based on his/her performance in each subject.

Students will know how they perform in the exams after WAEC publish the result.

Candidates are required to enter and sit for a minimum of eight (8) and a maximum of nine (9) subjects.

Expert tips for excelling in WASSCE English essay writing

Which officials does WAEC use to conduct exams?

There are three categories of officials WAEC uses to conduct its examination: supervisors, invigilators and inspectors.

Supervisors are teachers who are nominated by various State Ministries of Education.

They are the ones who conduct the exams for various centres.

Their job is to collect question papers from the students and return answer scripts to the custodian centres.

Usually, the Invigilators are the teaching staff whom the school principals nominate to assist the supervisors in the centres.

While inspectors are WAEC staff members who go from one centre to another when the exam is in progress.

WAEC Releases 2024 Final Timetable For May/June SSCE

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that WAEC released the timetable for the 2024 May/June SCCE examination in Nigeria. The WAEC exams will commence on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, with Foods and nutrition 3 (practical) planning session and Home Management 3 (practical) planning session.

UTME 2024: JAMB speaks on using online result checker

According to WAEC, candidates for the regional examination will sit for the English language on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. English Language 2 (Essay), English Language 1 (Objective) and English Language 3 (Test of Orals) will all take place on the same day.

WAEC candidates will be on break from Monday, June 17, 2024, to Wednesday, June 19, due to a public holiday to observe Eid-al-Adha.

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Source: Legit.ng

CUET Answer Key 2024 Out, Check Physics, Maths, Economics Paper Solutions

The NTA will release the CUET answer key 2024 in the last week of June (tentative). Candidates can meanwhile download the CUET UG subject-wise paper solutions provided by Adda247 for all exam shifts

Table of Contents

The National Testing Agency has started conducting the most awaited Common University Entrance Test- Undergraduate, CUET UG, from today May 15 (Wednesday). The CUET UG 2024 exam is expected to be taken by more than 13 lakh candidates who have registered. Students attempting the exam can check their probable scores through the CUET answer key 2024.

The CUET UG answer key 2024 is expected to be issued by the NTA in the last week of June 2024. The NTA will publish the provisional answer key on this official website, exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-UG. However, before that, students can calculate their scores through the unofficial paper solutions provided on this page.

CUET Answer Key 2024

Our CUET exam’s expert faculty at Adda247 prepares the solutions for each of the exam papers on the basis of memory-based questions provided by students. Students can get the questions and answers for all the exam shifts of the CUET UG 2024 exam. The CUET UG paper solutions PDF for both the online test subjects and offline test subjects will be shared below.

Check: CUET UG Exam Date Sheet 2024

CUET UG Answer Key 2024

The CUET scores determines the fate of lakhs of students for admission into undergraduate programs at top central and state universities like DU, JNU, Jamia, AMU, BHU, etc. The overview of the CUET UG 2024 answer key is provided herein.

CUET 2024 Answer Key Date

The official date has not been notified by the NTA yet for the publication of the official response key. The NTA will release the preliminary solutions and then the final answers will be issued. Candidates will be allowed to make objection against the provisional answer declared.

As per the trusted media sources, the NTA is expected to publish the CUET UG provisional answer key 2024 for all subjects in the last week of June 2024. The final answer key is expected to be issued by the NTA in he second week of July 2024.

The important dates regarding the NTA’s official question paper key is tabulated below.

Must Check: CUET Exam Analysis 2024 for All Shifts

CUET Answer Key 2024 PDF Download

The PDFs for the CUET UG expert paper solutions for all the exam shifts and exam subjects will be provided below in the following table. The Answer key PDF for the CUET UG All Subjects are available now.

Check: CUET Question Paper 2024 PDF for all Subjects

How to Calculate Scores Using CUET UG 2024 Answer Key

Candidates can calculate their probable CUET UG exam scores by matching their answers with the official solutions PDF or expert answers PDF provided above. To calculate the expected marks on the result day, students need to know the marking scheme so that they can compute their scores based on the number of correct answers, wrong answers and unanswered questions. The marking scheme is given below.

Marks for correct response: +1 marks
Marks for incorrect answer: -0.25 marks
Marks for unattempted questions: 0

How to Download CUET Official Answer Key 2024

Candidates can download the official response key along with the response sheet of the candidates from the official website by following the below-mentioned steps.

Go to the CUET UG 2024 official website.
On the main page, click on the link CUET(UG) Answer Key
After that, you’ll be taken to the login page. Enter the “CUET Application ID & Date of Birth” and select the “Login” button.
A ‘PDF’ version of the CUET answer key will appear on the computer screen.
Get the CUET 2024 answer key by downloading it. Save it to your files for future use.

Also Check: CUET UG Previous Year Question Papers

How to Raise Objections Against CUET Preliminary Answer Key

In the event that applicants discover any inconsistency, the NTA gives them the opportunity to contest the CUET answer key 2024. Students who want to challenge the CUET 2024 response key must follow the below-mentioned steps.

Go to the webpage of the NTA CUET to challenge the preliminary solutions
Select the tab labeled “Answer Key challenge for CUET 2024.”
In the login tab, provide your login information (birthdate and application number).
To view the question papers, candidates must click “View Question Papers.”
The question ID and correction option ID are visible to the candidates.
Click “Save your Claim” after selecting the option ID that you wish to contest. Candidates can now view all option IDs.
After uploading the necessary supporting documents, select “Save your Claim and Pay Fee Finally.”
Pay the processing charge using net banking, credit card, or debit card.
Take a printout of the submitted challenge for later use.

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When will the provisional answer key for the CUET 2024 exam be released?

The NTA will publish the provisional response key for the CUET UG 2024 exam in the last week of June (tentative).

When will the unofficial answer key for the CUET exam papers will be provided?

Students can download the CUET UG 2024 paper solutions for shift-wise exam papers after the conclusion of the test every day in the above article.

What is the expected date of the release of the CUET final answer key?

The CUET final response key for the 2024 exam is expected in the second week of July 2024.

Can I raise objection against the final response sheet published by the NTA?

No, students cannot raise objections against the final solutions of the exam paper. However, they can raise objections against the provisional answer key.

What is the official site to download CUET-UG answer key 2024?

Candidates can download the CUET UG preliminary as well as final answer sheet on the website, exams.nta.ac.in/CUET-UG.

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Final Exams in a School
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How to Prepare for a Final Exam Essay
Think about what tone you should use for that audience and also what types of information would convince them. Write down some brainstorming ideas in a cluster or a list. Make an outline and write it on your final. Use the basic outline format for that type of essay. Your outline can be brief phrases but should be clear.
Preparing for Finals
For essay exams, practice writing your response: Predict questions and outline your answers in preparation for the exam. Identify specific examples/evidence you will use to support your main points. If the exam is in class, time your practice runs to get a sense of the depth/quality of essays you'll be able to produce in the time allotted.
Essay Exams
Essay exams are a useful tool for finding out if you can sort through a large body of information, figure out what is important, and explain why it is important. Essay exams challenge you to come up with key course ideas and put them in your own words and to use the interpretive or analytical skills you've practiced in the course.
PDF Strategies for Essay Writing
When you write an essay for a course you are taking, you are being asked not only to create a product (the essay) but, more importantly, to go through a process of thinking more deeply about a question or problem related to the course. By writing about a source or collection of sources, you will have the chance to wrestle with some of the
How to Study for Finals
Follow our ultimate studying guide, and earn a top grade on your final exams. 1. Make a finals game plan. If you plan out your study sessions (for ALL your exams), you'll get a better handle on how much work you're facing. Use the calendar on your phone to set alerts and reminders for yourself so you stick to your plan. 2. Start early.
Essays for Exams
Most essay questions will have one or more "key words" that indicate which organizational pattern you should use in your answer. The six most common organizational patterns for essay exams are definition, analysis, cause and effect, comparison/contrast, process analysis, and thesis-support. Definition. Typical questions.
The Writing Center
Spend 15 minutes writing before class, just to warm up and break through anxiety. Taking the Exam. Before the exam begins, budget your time: If your allotted time is 75 minutes, then prepare to spend 15 minutes planning, 50 minutes writing, and 10 minutes reviewing. Keep track of time as you write, and stick to your plan.
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How to Prepare for an Essay Exam: 11 Steps (with Pictures)
A good essay should have an introduction, a body and a conclusion. 2. Outline your answers. Keeping your topics in mind (from the review stage), draft an outline to potential essay questions. Try to come up with a topic sentence and then arrange your supporting material, underneath, using bullet points.
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Exam Strategies: Short Answer & Essay Exams
Preparing for an essay exam. Review your course material - look for themes within the topics covered, use these to prepare sample questions if your instructor has not given direction on what to expect from essay questions.; Create outlines to answer your practice questions. Choose a definite argument or thesis statement and organize supporting evidence logically in body paragraphs.
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Use old midterms, course outlines, study partners, and lecture and text notes to help you predict and create possible short-answer or essay questions. Create outlines to answer your possible questions. Choose a definite argument and organize the supporting evidence logically. Try mnemonics such as rhymes or acronyms to help you remember your ...
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Find out what material the exam is going to cover and what format it is. Teachers and professors have different methods and formats for final exams. Some will make an exam comprehensive, while others will only test on a certain section of the material covered in class. Some exams are essay-based while others are multiple choice.
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We will write a custom essay on your topic. An English exam is usually aimed at testing the four skills which are listening, reading, writing, and listening. The advantage of this is that the exams are usually founded on realistic communicative contexts. The exams are also similar to the activities of the students.
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What Is the Purpose of Final Exams, Anyway? By Kevin Gannon. November 25, 2018. iStock. As the calendar flipped to November, the anxiety level for both me and my students ratcheted up a notch as ...
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What to expect from your law school final exams. A full semester of taking copious notes, reading, briefing, outlining, classroom discussions, and surviving the Socratic Method culminates in one final act. Writing law school final exams. Most professors give essay exams for law school finals. Some are single-topic, short-answer questions.
Examination resources
Fall 2016: final exam essays and 10 MC questions [MC explanations] Selected exams from year-long six-semester course through 2015. Essay questions from 2011 to 2015 are also online. However, I would caution current Civ Pro students regarding those questions as they are structured very differently (and are in some cases a good bit lengthier ...
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WR 1 - Final Exam Essay! Due: Final exams are due Wednesday May 22 (last day of instruction); submit via Canvas by 11:59pm.Extensions may be possible (a day or two at most!) - check with me if you think you will need that! After the 22nd, the Canvas site will go to view-only, so at that point you would need to email exams to me directly - pdf or Word doc.
WASSCE 2024: How WAEC Marks Students' Examination Paper
After marking the examination papers, WAEC will employ another group of people called the Checkers. The main role of Checkers is to ensure all the marks the examiners give are recorded correctly and are transferred to the right score sheets. WAEC does not reveal the identity of the examiners they use to mark the exam papers.
CUET UG 2024 Day 3 Covered 5.39 Lakh Test Papers; Check ...
On Day 3 of CUET UG, NTA conducted history, political science, and sociology test papers in three shifts. The exam covered approximately 5.39 lakh test papers in geography (313), physical education/ NCC/ yoga (321), business studies (305), and accountancy (301), accounting for 9.31% of the total exam.. This year, approximately 13.48 lakh unique candidates are taking the CUET UG 2024 in a ...
CUET Answer Key 2024 Out, Check Physics, Maths, Economics ...
Our CUET exam's expert faculty at Adda247 prepares the solutions for each of the exam papers on the basis of memory-based questions provided by students. Students can get the questions and answers for all the exam shifts of the CUET UG 2024 exam. ... No, students cannot raise objections against the final solutions of the exam paper. However ...

Essay Exams

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Taking the exam

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1. Make a finals game plan.

2. Start early.

3. Study in this order: a) definitely b) probably c) might be on the final

4. Give yourself more time to study for your toughest classes.

5. Form a study group.

6. Talk it out.

7. Get creative with study aids.

8. Study your notes.

9. Quiz yourself.

10. Make sleep a priority.

11. Take five.

12. Brain food is real.

Still stuck on how to study for finals?

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Writing Essays for Exams

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

What is a well written answer to an essay question?

How do you write an effective essay exam?

Specific organizational patterns and "key words"

1. Begin Early, at Least One Month in Advance 🗓️

How do you study for finals?

How long should you study for finals?

How many hours a day should you study for finals?

Is one week enough to study for the final exams?

Does studying on the day of a test help?

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